McCain's poise

Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2007 8:52 PM by Rob Merrill

Editor's note: Only Chuck is live blogging at this point as Mark helps time the candidate's responses. So I'll stop preceeding everything with "From NBC's Chuck Todd."

McCain looks to be the most prepared tonight. His answers are crisp and ready for air. It's the difference between doing this before and doing this for the first time. Ask Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton from last week. Obama wasn't ready for the format, Edwards and Clinton were.

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Comments

MSNBC is not giving equal time to each candidate. Giuliani is way slighted and cut off while others ramble onward.

JezEve, Nashville TN (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 8:58 PM)

Are you kidding? He looks stiff and rehearsed to me. Although he is doing a little better now he looked pretty nervous in the beginning.

Anonymous, Florida (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 8:58 PM)

Oh Puh-leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze. When are you going to work for McCain's campaign? No time like the present, Chuck.

J. Edwards, New Mexico (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 8:59 PM)

McCain seems desperate to me to win( as do they all). After watching the first part of this debate and all of last weeks, Clinton by far seems the most prepared to be President. So far, Paul seems like the only real Republican, and Im not sure thats good either.

Wayne, Columbia SC (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 8:59 PM)

Glimmer of the old McCain, supporting federal funding for stem cell research. Wonder if it'll cost him on the religious right.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:03 PM)

McCain is on the stump and battling which is the old McCain.

Mark, Dunkirk, NY (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:06 PM)

At first it seems as those mccain was very prepared but was simply not able to get his message out clearly, he has until a couple of minutes ago stumbled throughout all of his speeches!

Zach Symm, Austin, Texas (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:07 PM)

McCain sounded like a confused old man. But he is doing a lot better now. Almost hard to believe he could get nervous after all he's been thru...

Bill F, PA (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:12 PM)

I think he sounds nervous, and appears to be pressing. He started ok, but he's trying to hard to sound like a Bushie.

Buck Worthy, Fayetteville, NC (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:16 PM)

This is McCain's best debate performance. He is sharpt, aggressive and a Leader....I was pretty heaved at him for a sort of milk toast campaign, but this McCain can win The Presidency...(and we desperatly need a real leader...) Robert

Robert Oler, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:17 PM)

Are you watching the same debate? The one "scene" that stands out to me was his comment on "...he'll get bin Laden." He looked deadly serious (in an actor sort of way) pointed and wagged his finger to make his point..., then when he had finished his little deadly-serious speel, he flashed a huge smile. That was surreal, not to mention just plain weird. I hope someone posts it on YouTube.

Terre, OR (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:20 PM)

This debate did no favors for Giuliani; I expected him to be a lot steadier. Tancredo started out wobbly, but picked up the pace. I would've like to have seen him a little more aggressive. Come on Tom, we know you have it in you! Ron Paul is my pick, but I can't say short little sound bites do him justice, as he isn't a canned candidate. Romney very much appeared to be the pre-packaged candidate. (How many times did he and Giuliani mention Reagan?) I thought the big surprise tonight was Gilmore; I would be shocked if he didn't get a good bump in the polls.

Perrie Campbell, Springfield, MO (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:46 PM)

McCain was a bumbling idiot. I'm not sure what debate everyone was watching. Does everyone just tout the bumbling talking head reporters on MSNBC? Does anyone really think this old man knows what Americans want. Can I remind anyone of Bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran... He takes money from the war machine. He is only interested in serving the elite.

Shane, Palm Harbor FL (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:47 PM)

I have to agree with Terre, Oregon on McCain. The smile at the end of his speel was just strange.

Perrie Campbell, Springfield, MO (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:47 PM)

McCain looked sharp and strong, very presidential. Romney looked good too, very polished. Rudy kept dodging the questions with his anwers and was obviously very uncomfortable about his answers on Abortion and Stem Cells. If he can't do better he can kiss the nomination goobye even with his current lead.

Chris, Clover, South Carolina (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:15 PM)

I missed the debate. Why didn't Mcain finish the Bin Laden line...Its just a joke..lighten up? Thats what he said after joking about IED's recently. I for one would like to use one on him. Just like the one that killed my son and two of his fellow soldiers...aww just joking John...Lighten up

Gene DeLozier, Claremont,NC (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:20 PM)

Mcain-Guiliani...Mcain-Romney...Guiliani-Romney...Yeah I could vote for any of those tickets over the tax the rich, loose the war democrats.

carlos, cape coral, fl (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:23 PM)

I agree with the comments on McCain's Bush like stupid smile after his Bin Laden comment.....what was this boy thinking? What a shame! It's over for him. Romney looked very polished, articulate, and charismatically presidential....and frightens me more than anyone up there as this is what most voters in our country look for.

Stephen Schein, Boulder Co (Sent Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:46 PM)

CHUCK YOU OWE HUCKABEE AN APOLOGY! HE WAS CONSISTENT ON THE ISSUE OF FAITH!

James Boulder (Sent Friday, May 04, 2007 12:00 AM)

By far the best quote of the night went to McCain about following Osama bin Laden to the "gates of hell" - great soundbite - the smile was kind of weird but it was good nevertheless!

R Estrada, LA, Cal. (Sent Friday, May 04, 2007 3:31 AM)

YA JUST WHAT WE NEED ANOTHER REAGAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE,GUY GOT LOST GOING TO THE TOILET. MCCAIN IS TO OLD...HE WILL NEVER LAST THIS LONG CAMPAIGN. HE WILL BOMB..BOMB..BOMB!

H P BOSTON, MA (Sent Friday, May 04, 2007 2:04 PM)

The people writing these comments worry me more than who is going to be the next President.

sms Holualoa, Hi. (Sent Friday, May 04, 2007 6:21 PM)

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